THE EFFECTS OF MEXICAN SUNFLOWER ( TITHONIA DIVERSFOLIA) EXTRACTS APPLIED AS LIQUID MANURE ON THE EMERGENCE AND GROWTH OF SPIDER PLANT (CLEOME GYNANDRA).

BY

MBUTHIA JOHN W.A22/0056/2009BSC. AGRICULTURE (CROP SCIENCE MAJOR)

SUPERVISED BY. DR. CECILIA ONYANGO.

INTRODUCTION.Mexican sunflower ( Tithonia diversfolia) It is an annual aggressive weed growing to a height of

2.5m and is well adapted to most soils though it originated from Mexico.

In Kenya it is used on a wide variety of purposes that include fodder, compost, land demarcation and ornamental purposes.

It is known to accumulate huge amounts of biomass over a short period of time that is 2.0 to 3.9 t dry matter ha–1 for eight-month-old pure stands(King’ara 1998). This biomass has relatively high nutrient concentrations that is N (3.5%), P(0.37) and K(4.1%) hence has a great potential as an organic fertilizer. Research work in Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe has reported it as a major nutrient source in maize and rice farming. (Gachenco et al.1999).

Research work by Olabode et al., (2000) concluded that Mexican sunflower with its high nutrient status is a potential soil improver for productivity and recommended it as a green manure or as a major component of compost manure.

Spider plant ( cleome gynandra) It is an erect herbaceous annual herb, which is

branched and rather stout. It is grouped among the Afrcan leafy vegetables and its consumption has lead to commercialization in its production. (Chweya J.A 1990)

Its propagated by seed with viable seeds germinating within 4-5 days. Seed germination is however erratic occurring over an extended period. (Chweya and Mnzava, 1997).

Nutrition analysis has found it to be high in certain nutrients including amino acids, vitamins and minerals; as a result it forms an important part of diets.

PROBLEM STATEMENT. The high cost of fertilizers inhibits agricultural

production systems. Resource poor farmers. Environmental conservation. the prolonged and irregular germination pattern

of spider plant hinders synchronized harvesting of the spider plant vegetable.

JUSTIFICATION.

Application of readily available environmental friendly organic fertilizers such as mexican sunflower liquid extracts in farming systems will reduce the cost of production hence increased returns to the farmer.

Uniform germination(emergence) of spider plant is important in target market farming.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of Mexican sunflower

extracts applied as liquid manure on the germination (emergence) and growth of spider plant

Hypothesis. Application of Mexican sunflower extracts as liquid manure will not influence the germination and growth of spider plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS.

The experiment will be carried out in a greenhouse where the spider plants will be grown in pots filled with analyzed soil obtained from the Kabete field station. A soil test will be carried out to determine the pH level, available phosphorous and total nitrogen in the soil.

Di-ammonium Phosphate fertilizer (DAP-18:46:0), Cow manure and Mexican sunflower liquid manure will be used to determine their effects on the spider plant germination and growth. DAP will be applied at the rate of 200 kg/ha, cow manure will be applied at the rate of 20 t/ha (Kimani and Chweya, 1997) while Mexican sunflower liquid manure will be applied at the rate of 500ml/pot (KARI report,2011).

The spider plant will be grown in 2kg pots and the experiment will be laid out as complete randomized design (CRD), with three treatments including a control replicated eight times.

Eight seeds will be planted per pot. Weeds will be controlled by hand weeding as needed. Data to be collected will be on:

number of days to germination (emergence), percentage germination, number of leaves per plant plant height. root average length and number. Root and shoot fresh and dry weights.

The data will be subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Genstat statistical software (Layne and Payne, 2006) and means will be compared using Fischer’s least significant test (LSD)

Preparation of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversfolia) liquid manure:The liquid manure will be prepared by fermenting the tithonia diversfolia in water for 4-6 days. Three (3) kgs of fresh tithonia diversfolia, will be fermented in 50 litres of water for a period of 4 days (Musyimi et al. 2012) and then the solid biomass will be discarded while the water will be used during planting.

  Cow manure: Will be collected from the Kabete

Field Station in the livestock section.

Chemical fertilizer: Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP- 18:46:0) will be purchased from a local agrovet at Ndumboine.

Experimental design:The experiment will involve three treatments that is:

Td :-Tithonia diversfolia liquid manure (500ml/pot) Cm :cow manure (600g/pot) F:- fertilizer (DAP: 18:46:0) (8g/pot) C:- the control

EXPERIMANTAL LAYOUTThe experiment will be laid in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 32 pots such that 8 pots will carry each treatment.

Td8 Cm3 Td3 C7 Td5 F4 Td7 Cm4

Cm1 Td4 Cm8 C1 Cm5 F1 Cm7 F2

C3 Td2 F3 C5 F5 C2 F7 Cm2

F8 F6 Td1 C4 Cm6 C6 Td6 C8

BUDGETPARTICULARS UNITS COST

Spider plant seeds 100g packet Ksh. 200

DAP Fertilizer 250g Ksh. 80

Cow manure Half a bucket Ksh. 30

Fresh Tithonia diversfolia (transport) 5kgs of plant materials Ksh. 50

Labour1 man at 1hour work time per day for entire project period. Ksh. 1200

Pots 35 pots. Ksh. 100

Printing and binding Project proposal.

Project report.

Ksh. 800

Miscellaneous Ksh. 200

TOTAL Ksh. 2660

WORKPLANACTIVITY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY

Purchase of inputs

preparation of Tithonia diversfolia liquid manure

Pots preparation and planting

Data collection

Data analysis and report writing

Report submission

References Jama, B.C.A, R.J Buresh, A. Niang, C.N Gachenco, G.

Nziguheba and B.Amadalo, 2000. Tithoniadiversfolia as green manure for soil fertility improvement in western Kenya . A. Rev. Agroforest. Sys. 49: 201-221.

Chweya, James A. and MnzavaNameusA.. (1997) Cat’s whiskers. Cleome gynandraL. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 11. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. ISBN 92-9043-303-5

FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 107. Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) A Tropical leafy vegetable . Its cultivation and Utilization by Kimani Waithaka Ph.D. and J.D Chweya Ph. D.

Evaluation of Tithoniadiversfolia (Hemsl.) A Gray for soil improvement. LandokheAkintola University of Technology, Nigeria. World Journal of Sciences 3(4) : 503-507, 2007.

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